Ellington

For Park concessionaires, fires added up to big losses

The fires of 2017 came with a economic wallop to what was shaping up as a banner year for Glacier area businesses.

RV Park owner found perfect heart surgeon by chance

Larry Fowler has a long history of heart problems.

Ruis sells Bandit Bar to Whitefish restaurateur

Developer Mick Ruis has sold the former Bandit Bar to a successful Whitefish restaurant owner.

Griz shot dead after it grabs hunter by the arm

A hunter shot a sow grizzly that had his son’s arm in its mouth Sept. 24 up the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Homecoming parade, in pictures...

After a long hot summer, mahoganies are the fly

Spring was wet. Then a hot summer, ending in smoke. Now a cold, wet early fall.

North Fork news

Usually, if I miss writing a column for two weeks, it is because there is nothing to write about, or I am just plain lazy. Not the case this time. Thanks to Brian Kennedy and Terry Kennedy I was partially trapped in the past and somewhat distracted by the present. More about that in the next couple of weeks after I catch up with North Fork activities.

Opinion: Bleed Blue

Not long into the 2017-18 school year at Columbia Falls High School, we already have great things to talk about. Students are working hard in the classrooms, as are those involved in extracurricular activities. Despite the many days of smoke and school closures, they are finding success and doing a fantastic job of representing Columbia Falls.

A Closing Note on Yenne Peak

The serious effort by this writer and many others to name special places in Glacier National Park to honor important people who helped make it what it is has become a dead issue; however, I do not want to just let it die without a personal comment.

Mayoral candidate opposes detention center

I am a resident of and mayoral candidate for the City of Columbia Falls, who strongly opposes siting the Flathead County Jail at the city’s doorstep. I want to cite several reasons why this decision impacts not only Columbia Falls, but the surrounding counties, as well.

Girls soccer caps off week with an offensive tear; bests Whitefish at home

They needed to beat Whitefish by two goals to stay in the hunt for a conference championship. The Columbia Falls girls soccer team rose to the challenge Tuesday night, beating the Lady Bulldogs 5-3 in a physical affair at home.

Wildcats pummel Loggers on the road; face improved Indians

The Columbia Falls football team pummeled conference rival Libby on the road last Friday, 54-0. The Wildcats shot out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a blowout.

Spikers down Browning

The Columbia Falls girls volleyball team split last week, taking Polson to five games in a loss at home last Thursday, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 16-25, 15-12, but thrashing Browning at home Saturday, 26-24, 25-18, 25-18.

Knudsen, Erickson lead cross-country squads

The Columbia Falls boys took second the girls took third at the Whitefish Invitational on Tuesday.

Three golfers headed to Sidney for state tourney

The Columbia Falls golf squad will send three boys to the state A tournament this week in Sidney.

Boys soccer goes 2-1 on the week; thrash Libby, Stevi

The Columbia Falls boys soccer squad went 2-1 on the week. They dropped Stevensville on the road last Tuesday, 6-1, lost to Polson Thursday at home 3-1 and then thrashed Libby at home Saturday, 7-0.

Cops keeping in touch with cyber terrorists

Law enforcement continue to communicate with a cyber terrorist group that all but paralyzed the Columbia Falls School District earlier this month, Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said Monday night.

Columbia Falls residents say no to jail

Columbia Falls residents realize the county needs more jail space. They just don’t want a new jail here.

No headline

Richard Carl Hartman

Racicot says compromise is key in politics

Former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot used lessons taken from Montana’s Mike Mansfield to illustrate a national need for a return to “decency” and compromise during his talk on “The Meaning of Leadership” Monday night.

Basin commission could be axed entirely

The Flathead Basin Commission is set to discuss proposed cuts to the state budget at its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The cuts could leave the commission without any funding for staff, according to its executive director. The commission will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hungry Horse Ranger District office.

As fall arrives, services winding down in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park has begun preparing for the fall and winter seasons, with many services set to close in the coming month.

Sprague Fire continues to smolder

The Sprague Fire in Glacier National Park continued to simmer on Snyder Ridge and the flanks of Mount Brown last week. The higher elevations appear to be all but out as snow fell, but the lower reaches continue to put up smoke, even with colder temperatures and rain.

Waterton townsite reopens, but most of Waterton still closed

Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada has partially reopened after the Kenow Fire burned about 30 percent of the park earlier this month.

Grizzly bears nab 10 calves

A ranch about five miles west of Dupuyer near the Rocky Mountain Front lost 10 calves last week to grizzly bears.

Gianforte touts forest bill during Stoltze visit

Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte toured the F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber mill last week, touting the Resilient Federal Forests Act. The Act looks to streamline forest management and logging operations on projects on National Forest and Bureau of Management lands across the U.S.

Monument status for Badger-Two Medicine? Perhaps

A leaked memo from Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke’s office seems to indicate support for national monument status for the Badger-Two Medicine region south of Glacier National Park near Marias Pass.

Highway 2 paving might not happen this year

The U.S. Highway 2 construction through Columbia Falls is on schedule, but paving might not happen until next spring, representatives from Knife River Construction and the Montana Department of Transportation said recently.

New Conservancy director looks to double its coffers

Doug Mitchell didn’t get much time to settle into the job as the executive director of the Glacier National Park Conservancy. About six weeks in, the Sperry Chalet was gutted by fire and the Park will likely lean heavily on the Conservancy to stabilize, and hopefully rebuild the structure.

Legals September 27, 2017

No. 1619 Notice is hereby given that regular* registration for the Columbia Falls Municipal General Election(s) to be held on November 7, 2017 will close at 5:00 p.m., on October 10, 2017. *NOTE: If you miss this regular registration deadline, you may still register for the election by showing up at the county election office up to and including on Election Day. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, you can complete and submit a voter registration card, but you will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. ELECTION OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS: 40 11th St West, Suite 230, Kalispell, MT 59901 VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: http://flathead.mt.gov/election All active and inactive**electors of City of Columbia Falls are entitled to vote at said election. **Inactive electors may reactivate by appearing at the polling place. Council Chambers of Columbia Falls City Hall in order to vote, by requesting an absentee ballot in any election, or by notifying the Flathead County Election Office in writing of the elector's current address in the county. Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by requesting a form for registration by mail or by appearing at the county election office.. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration card and submitting it to the county election office. DATED this 6th day of September 2017. Debbie Pierson Flathead County Election Administrator By: /s/Monica R. Eisenzimer Clerk & Recorder Manager September 20, 27, October 4, 2017 MNAXLP

Bear attacks hunter up east side of Hungry Horse Reservoir

A hunter was attacked by a bear in the Twin Creek area on the east side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir Sunday morning.

Huckleberry: No switchbacks, great views

The Huckleberry Lookout in Glacier National Park is the only lookout trail in Glacier without a single switchback.

For cranes, a rest area preserved

You hear them before you see them, sandhill cranes, their prehistoric calls make you look up and take notice as they set their great wings and land in the fields surrounding the wetlands west of Kalispell.

Deer Park School bond voted down by residents

Voters in the Deer Park School district voted down a $3 million school bond request, 207-126, in a mail-in ballot last Tuesday.

Fire restrictions lifted; no open burning however, until Oct. 1

Hungry Horse News

Wildcat soccer drops a pair to rival Bulldogs on the road

Defensive lapses for both the boys and girls soccer teams added up to losses for both squads against Northwest Conference rival Whitefish last week.

The woods

There was a recent study that said walking in the woods is better for you than just walking, say, down a city street.

Climate change in front of us

As cooler temperatures and precipitation finally bring a hint of relief to smoke-weary Montanans, the unusual nature of summer 2017 is coming into focus and the influence of climate change is impossible to ignore.

She says stop the blame game

I was too busy working as a volunteer fire lookout this summer to immediately respond to the outrageous and opportunistic comments made by Senator Daines, Congressman Gianforte, Secretary Zinke, and Secretary Perdue at the Lolo Fire. To use a time when many Montanans were evacuating their homes, firefighters were risking their lives, and all of us were tired of breathing smoke to start a “blame game” and push a political agenda was insensitive and unethical.

Poetry in the news

With all the discouraging news we’ve had lately, especially scary fire stuff from Glacier Park, I took two hours looking back in the records this week to find a column that could bring on a smile or two. Actually found a lot of them but have chosen one from summer of 1985 that shows there can be difficult problems managing a National Park which do not require great expense and closures of facilities.

North Forkers aren't all Christians

My sincere gratitude to Larry Wilson for his belated acknowledgment of the existence of non-Christians (“atheists, and probably other religions”) on the North Fork (HHN Aug. 30, 2017). This has to be some kind of breakthrough.

Food Bank says thank you

We would like to give a big thank you to the following for supporting our 4-H kids at the fair and donating the meat to us: Glacier Bank, Flathead Electric Co-op, Pioneer Plumbing and Whitefish Ford. This was very much appreciated and needed by all of us at the Columbia Falls Food Bank.

For Rotary, sadness at cancellation of annual event

It’s a sad week for International Peace Park Rotarians.

Rains set Sprague to a simmer

While rains have helped the Sprague Fire in Glacier National Park, firefighters continue working to stop it from reaching the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Kenow Fire burned about 30 percent of Waterton Lakes Park

Over the past week the Kenow Fire in Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada burned roughly one-third of the land mass in the Park and about 70 percent of its forested area, Glacier Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said last week.

Public meeting on jail is Sept. 25 at junior high

County and city leaders will hold a public meeting on a proposed new jail for Columbia Falls next Tuesday.

Montana fire season worse than 2000, '03

With cooler, wetter weather finally arriving in Montana, another historic fire season appears to at least be setting itself to simmer, if not completely out. The largest fire was the Lodgepole Complex near Jordan at 270,723 acres. The largest local fire was the Rice Ridge Fire, which burned near Seeley Lake and deep into the Bob Marshall Wilderness at 160,170 acres.

Small swivels the cure for line twist

Few things are more frustrating to spin fishermen than line twist.

Glacier's grand old hotel celebrated

In the late 1990s, the fate of the Many Glacier Hotel hung in the balance.

Legals September 20, 2017

No. 1619 Notice is hereby given that regular* registration for the Columbia Falls Municipal General Election(s) to be held on November 7, 2017 will close at 5:00 p.m., on October 10, 2017. *NOTE: If you miss this regular registration deadline, you may still register for the election by showing up at the county election office up to and including on Election Day. Between noon and the close of business on the day before Election Day, you can complete and submit a voter registration card, but you will need to return to the local election office on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot. ELECTION OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS: 40 11th St West, Suite 230, Kalispell, MT 59901 VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: http://flathead.mt.gov/election All active and inactive**electors of City of Columbia Falls are entitled to vote at said election. **Inactive electors may reactivate by appearing at the polling place. Council Chambers of Columbia Falls City Hall in order to vote, by requesting an absentee ballot in any election, or by notifying the Flathead County Election Office in writing of the elector's current address in the county. Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by requesting a form for registration by mail or by appearing at the county election office.. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration card and submitting it to the county election office. DATED this 6th day of September 2017. Debbie Pierson Flathead County Election Administrator By: /s/Monica R. Eisenzimer Clerk & Recorder Manager September 20, 27, October 4, 2017 MNAXLP

'Cyber terrorists' threaten schools, students staff; seek ransom

It was a surreal and sometimes frightening week for the Columbia Falls School district amid a “cyber terrorism” attack on the school, staff, police and parents.

FVCC will reopen tomorrow; high schools Tuesday

By Stefanie Thompson

Evacuation warnings lifted for Apgar, West Glacier, though fire activity could pick up a bit Saturday, Sunday

The evacuation warning for Apgar, West Glacier and Moose City was lifted Saturday morning, though as skies clear and things dry out, people should be prepared to see more fire activity in the next couple of days over the Sprague Fire.

Glacier reopens some backcountry campgrounds

Glacier National Park is now allowing some backcountry permits in the Park. On Thursday, it began issuing permits for campgrounds south of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, outside of areas that are closed by the Sprague Creek Fire.

Sprague Fire meeting tonight

The Central Montana Type II Incident Management Team and Glacier National Park will be hosting a public meeting for the Sprague, Adair Peak and Elder Creek Fires tonight (Friday). The meeting will be at the Community Building at Glacier National Park Headquarters at 7 p.m.

Crews ready to stabilize Sperry for winter

Engineers and Glacier National Park restoration staff flew into Sperry Chalet last week to see how best to stabilize the structure through the winter months and will look to begin work soon.

Progress being made on threat investigation, Sheriff says, schools remain closed

By BREEANA LAUGHLIN

Foundation unveils monuments for Nucleus Avenue

Columbia Falls could soon have a significantly spruced up entrance to Nucleus Avenue. The Columbia Falls Community Foundation presented a plan for two monuments and other amenities that the non-profit community organization hopes will get more tourist traffic to come down the street.

Montana Senators, Sec. Zinke support Sperry Chalet rebuild

The effort to eventually rebuild the Sperry Chalet got bipartisan backing last week from Montana’s two senators.

School threats were via email, text, Sheriff says

Most schools across Flathead County will not have school today after a threat was received against the schools.

Sprague Fire doesn't make big run to Apgar, West Glacier

The Sprague Fire grew overnight, but didn’t make a big run toward Apgar Village, despite high winds from the northwest and northeast last night. It also did not reach the Going-to-the-Sun Road, fire managers said Thursday morning.

School closed throughout Flathead County

Schools throughout Flathead County, including Columbia Falls and most of the large districts, are closed Thursday due to threats received via text message. Flathead Valley Community College also announced a closure.

Columbia Falls native now has a career with REI

Ask Taldi Walter about her life, and she’ll laugh and tell you it’s a funny story.

Wildfires and their impacts on fish

Recently I stopped at FWP Region One headquarters in Kalispell and asked Fisheries Biologist Amber Steed what effects wildfires have on fish.

Fire Stuff and Things

Wild fires are all the news now and like everyone, I’m ready for snow. Much public criticism of Glacier Park’s handling of Sperry Chalet loss, some justified others questionable. In my 11 years of forest fire fighting and instructing, never had a similar summer so am waiting for facts and reviews to be done. In the meantime my partners and I have had a tough week of concern for Moose City because of the Elder Creek Fire in Canada and Glacier Park. Am repeating a fire report from the bad summer of 2003:

Grant takes 33rd in world mountain bike race

CAIRNS, Australia — Columbia Falls mountain biker Rose Grant finished 33rd at the UCI women’s elite cross country Olympic world championships on Saturday, finishing nearly 11 minutes back of the overall winner.

Wildcats lose to Beavers on the road

The Columbia Falls football team lost to Dillon in a squeaker on the road last Friday, 16-14. The rematch of last year’s Class A championship game lived up to its billing.

Spikers go 1-2 on the week

The Columbia Falls volleyball team went 1-2 on the week.

The end is near for wildfire season, weather service predicts

Northwest Montana’s long, hot fire season will likely end with a whimper by Thursday and will see even more rain and cold weather next week, the National Weather Service is predicting.

Yes bowling alley is for sale, but no buyer

The Glacier Lanes bowling alley in Columbia Falls is for sale.

Glacier Glow Run, rescheduled for October, due to smoke

Unhealthy air conditions caused by the numerous fires in Northwest Montana have forced this year’s Glacier Glow Run/Walk to be pushed to a later date.

August was brutally hot and dry, with almost no rain

Northwest Montana had one of its driest and hottest Augusts on record.

Glacier National Park visitation topped 900,000 in August

Fires and smoke aside, Glacier National Park saw 908,479 visitors in August, a 21.4 percent increase over last year.

Wildlife after a fire

So it was just getting dark and I was busy setting up cameras along the shore of Lake McDonald, waiting for the big run of the Sprague Creek Fire. Everything was going fairly smoothly, which is to say I had completely forgotten any sort of headlamp, so I was stumbling around by the light of the moon and my cell phone.

No headline

Kathleen Ann Squires

City leaders generally favor jail at Cedar Palace site

Columbia Falls city leaders generally favor the county building a new jail on Weyerhaueser lands adjacent to the Cedar Palace.

School District 6 enrollment up 42 students from last fall

Enrollment is up at School District 6 schools in Columbia Falls.

With federal changes, Wilderness Foundation looks to do even more in the Bob

You never know who you might run into while volunteering in the backcountry.

Fishing derbies on tap

Hungry Horse News

Kenow Fire burns through Waterton; Prince of Wales hotel OK

The Kenow Fire burned through and beyond Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada on Monday.

Sprague Fire holds to Snyder Ridge

The smoke cleared, the wind blew, but the Sprague Fire, helped by 250,000 gallons of water dropped by aircraft, held to the crest of Snyder Ridge Sunday.

Public hearing on snowmobile business next week

The Columbia Falls city-county planning board will take another look at a proposed snowmobile rental business on Railroad Street next week.

Weather next week could help cool blazes

There looks to be hope on the horizon in the long range weather forecast that could stymie the fires plaguing Northwest Montana and Glacier National Park.

Waterton issues evacuation order

Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada issued an evacuation order Friday for all of Waterton Lakes National Park and the Waterton townsite.

Glacier suspends issuance of backcountry permits

Glacier National Park announced Friday that it would issue no new overnight backcountry permits, saying the Park expects extreme fire activity this weekend, with the possibility of dry thunderstorms and increased wind.

Parade of Homes winners announced; event is this weekend

The Flathead Building Association has announced the 2017 Flathead Valley Parade of Homes award winners.

We need to manage our forests

Montana’s crisis isn’t too much water or hurricanes – it’s fire. It’s smoke filling Big Sky Country and filling our lungs, communities being evacuated, structures lost and tons of fuels just lying on the forest floor waiting for a spark to ignite. In this year alone, over 1,600 fires have burned over 1 million acres in Montana — that’s nearly equivalent to the entirety of the state of Delaware being on fire.

Big model airplane airfield near Veterans Home nixed

A proposal by a group of model airplane enthusiasts to build a 60-foot-wide, by 800-foot long model airplane strip on a hayfield adjacent to the Montana Veterans Home has been grounded.

Super Scooper planes; “Rain for Rent” could help fight Glacier National Park's Sprague Fire

Fire managers on the Sprague Fire in Glacier National Park are hoping to get “super scooper” aircraft in the coming days to fight the blaze’s west flank above the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

No headline

The Flathead County Board of Adjustment on Tuesday rejected Don and Paul Herbert’s request for a conditional-use permit to erect a cellular communication tower at 1291 Belton Stage Road in the Middle Canyon Zoning District.

Waterton closes all but a few areas of the park due to fire concerns; Weyerhaeuser closes its lands, too

Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada has closed most of its lands due to wildfire except for the townsite inside the park and a few other areas, it announced yesterday.

A threatening fire season

The smoke persists. Glacier Park is on fire, along with many other places in Montana. Until this week the entire North Fork was spared except for a minimal risk from the Gibralter Fire across the Whitefish Divide miles west of us. Gibralter still burns but is even less of a threat than it was last week. Unfortunately recent lightning brought two new fires to the Upper North Fork.

Labor Day history lesson

Last week was busy. Had relatives visit and spent many hours mourning the loss of my beloved Sperry Chalet, one of the most magical spots on Earth. So! Am running a bit of our past we should all enjoy.

Getting good at breaking rods

Screen door of motorhome. Mangrove stump. Yeti cooler. Front bumper of Toyota Tundra.

Sperry faux pas

Last Thursday night was breezy and warm and I went to shoot a couple of soccer games as the Wildcats played Bigfork.

Cats edge Hamilton to open the football season

The Columbia Falls football team started the season off on a high note, downing rival Hamilton 23-20 on the road Friday.

No headline

Cats take third at Ronan

The Columbia Falls boys golf team took third at the Ronan Invitational last week.

No headline

Spikers drop Indians away

The Columbia Falls volleyball team beat Browning in straight sets 25-19, 25-23, 26-24 last week.

Girls soccer opens season on a high note

The Columbia Falls girls soccer team looks as good as expected early in the season. They thumped Bigfork on the road Thursday, 8-0, and dispatched Frenchtown 4-1 in their home opener Saturday.

Cats split to open the season

The Columbia Falls boys soccer team opened its season last week with a split. The boys thumped short-handed Bigfork 8-0 Thursday but lost to Frenchtown in their home opener, 3-1, Saturday.

No headline

Knudsen in top 10 at Cut Bank

Runner Gabe Knudsen led the boys squad with a ninth-place finish at the Cut Bank time trials last week. Knudsen ran the course with a time of 17:32.76. On the girls’ side, freshman Lara Erickson led the charge with a 13th-place finish, clocking a 22:02.

Heartbroken: The Sprague Fire, a week in review

The Sperry Chalet was gutted by fire. Lake McDonald Lodge was evacuated. The west side of the Sun Road was closed to Logan Pass.

WELCOME BACK: Kimberly Peacock returns home thanks to special flight service

It was a special homecoming for Kimberly Peacock last week.

New Glacier Park reader book gathers stories of the storied land

Whether your passion is animals, adventure, or history, there’s something for everyone in a new anthology of writings about Glacier National Park. “The Glacier Park Reader,” edited by David Stanley, will soon be available for purchase at the Glacier National Park Conservancy and all associated bookstores.

Selenium a growing concern in sensitive Northwest trout streams

About five years ago, Tim Linehan of Linehan Outfitting Co. of the Yaak was fishing the Elk River in British Columbia when he caught a native westslope cutthroat trout that was missing its gill plates. That was when Linehan first learned that upstream coal mines releasing excess selenium into waterways might be causing abnormalities in fish, he said.

Public meeting on Glacier Park fires tonight

There will be a public meeting at 7 p.m. tonight on the Sprague and other fires burning in Glacier National Park. The meeting, held at the community building in Park headquarters, will talk about what’s transpired with the fire and what fire managers think could happen in the future.

Spotted Bear area fires mean backcountry travel concerns

Seven fires are currently burning in the Spotted Bear Ranger District on the Flathead National Forest and with active fire growth on several of the fires, district officials have closed trails for public safety. The fires are burning in the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness areas. Significant stretches of the Continental Divide Trail are affected by the fires and have trail closures.

Glacier also has a fire in upper North Fork; a host of trails in Glacier are now closed

A fire burning primarily in Canada has slipped into Glacier National Park and has burned about 80 acres in the upper North Fork east of the North Fork of the Flathead River.

Adair fire goes on a run, Glacier Park's Logging Lake campground evacuated

A fire that had been skunking around on Adair Ridge in Glacier National Park blew up Sunday night after being stoked by high east winds. The Adair Ridge Fire was an estimated 1,300-plus acres, blooming from 60 acres.

Sprague Fire goes on big run, but doesn't reach the Glacier National Park's Sun Road

The Sprague Fire in Glacier National Park went on a big run to the south Sunday night, but it did not reach the Going-to-the-Sun Road, fire information officer Diane Sine said.

Park closes Sun Road on West side; evacuates campgrounds near Lake McDonald

Glacier National Park has closed the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the south end of Lake McDonald to Logan Pass and ordered an evacuation of residences and buildings and campgrounds around the lake due to the Sprague Fire.

Firefighters preparing for the worst at Glacier Park's Lake McDonald Lodge; evacuation warning up; Red Flag warning at 9 p.m.

Glacier National Park is preparing for east winds forecast for Sunday night that may push the Sprague Fire further downslope in the Lake McDonald area. An evacuation warning is in place due to this possibility.

For many, a profound sadness at loss of Sperry Chalet

There was a deep and profound sense of sadness among the Glacier Park hiking and historic community Friday at the loss of Sperry Chalet to the Sprague Fire.

No headline

By CHRIS PETERSON